Chapter 1: Humans Need A Hobby, Right?
It's been a week since Dean found Castiel standing outside the Bat Cave. Castiel was completely and utterly human. And not just the blocked grace type thing but full on no grace at all. Pure, white hot rage filled Dean Winchester as he thought of the dickhead who took Cas's grace from him.
The adjustment was difficult to say the least. Castiel had been a bit irritable but that was to be expected. The real problem was having a restless angel holing himself up in your room, refusing to leave except for the occasional food run or potty breaks.
And at first, Dean didn't really consider the problem, so he let it be. The ex-angel had just lost his damn wings for God's sakes. Anybody would be shaken up about it. But after having Castiel raid his drawers and successfully rearrange every gun placed on his wall, Dean was tired of it. "He needs to get a hobby," Sam had muttered one night after Cas had retreated back to Dean's room for the night.
It made sense. Humans need a hobby, right? Something they like to do. His own hobby, he had found, was cooking. He had always had a love for food, so he had found his little niche. Sammy had his research, spending hours cataloging the countless amounts of information the Men of Letters had on specific monsters. So maybe it could work for Cas, Dean thought. So he rounded up the posse to help him execute his plan to help Cas get a hobby and help with his new found humanness. Unfortunately, his small team diminished, what with Sam still sick and recovering from the trials and Kevin refusing to go, so he guessed he would just have to fly solo this time.
Dean walked toward his room. He had a feeling he was going to regret this. The eldest Winchester sighed and knocked on the door. A small grunt came from behind the door and Dean took it as a "come in. (or maybe it was a "go the Hell away"; he wasn't quite sure)" And anyway, this was his room. Why should he have to ask permission to go in his own room? He turned the knob gently and walked into the room. Cas was sitting cross-legged on the bed, looking scruffy and small in his borrowed clothes. Though he would never admit it, Dean loved seeing Castiel in his clothes. There was something about Cas in a faded Metallica shirt and ill-fitting jeans that slid down to reveal slender hips that Dean could definitely get used to. In fact, he already had.
Regardless of how good it made Castiel look, Dean knew that Cas would need an actual set of clothes. All part of his awesome plan. He strode over to where Cas was sitting.
"Come on, Cas. We're goin' somewhere."
Castiel looked up at him, a little shocked. "But Dean, I don't want to go anywhere. I'm fine where I'm at." Cas executed a bitch face worthy of Sam Winchester and went back to staring off into space.
"Dude, come on. We gotta get you outta here. Bein' in this room all the time can't be healthy." Castiel somewhat nods, as if maybe Dean was getting through to him but he still stayed in the same position, criss-cross applesauce on Dean's memory foam bed looking anywhere but at Dean. He knew that it was time to take action. Dean reached over and grabbed Castiel's hand. Castiel's breath hitched. Huh. That was kinda weird. Regardless, the eldest Winchester snapped the former angel off the bed and dragged him out the door.
Castiel stood outside of the Impala waiting for Dean. The apprehensive yet curious look on his face was almost too much for Dean to handle. See, Dean had a thing for Castiel. He didn't know when it happened, but he did know that the feeling was here and it wasn't going anywhere any time soon. He was a man; he could admit when he felt the fuzzy feelings. He may not spew his feelings all over the place like Sammy, but he knew when it was time to admit to himself about chick stuff. The thing was though, he was pretty sure that Castiel was straight. So he kept all this stupid feelings shit to himself.
"Ready?" He asked, successfully popped out of his own head.
"Yes, Dean." With that, they entered the shop. Dean dragged Castiel to the clothes section of the store. Dean let Cas browse through, picking things out and asking for Dean's approval. Occasionally, Dean would even suggest some clothes for Castiel, some that he thought would look good on him. Once they got that out of the way, they proceeded to the checkout line. He pulled the newly fallen angel to the side. "Hey Cas, I want you to come with me a second." Cas simply nodded and side-stepped, waiting for Dean to get in front to lead the way. Dean led him to an isle near the checkout register. The isle was filled with items for crafts. Dean motioned at it. "Come on, Cas. Pick out anything you want. Wouldn't want you to get bored in that room all day." He grinned down at Castiel who was gazing at the large collection of paints. He gently wrapped his hand around a package, complete with paints, a paint brush, and a small sketchbook. He hugged it, holding onto the small package with all of his worth. Castiel looked up at Dean with a wide grin that lit up his face. God, he looks so- nope we're not going there!
All of Dean's thoughts were drowned out by the sudden press of a slender body on his. Soon, arms slid between his arms and pulled him into an embrace. The hug was gentle but firm in the same instance, which doesn't make much sense but his hug was nonetheless meaning full.
The rational side of Dean's brain was telling him to break the contact before this got more sappy but Dean knew that that wasn't what his friend (was that even the correct term for what Cas was to him? He wasn't sure but did not want to press any farther) needed right now. He needed someone to be there for him, to teach him how to be human, to comfort him. So he stayed there for as long as Castiel needed, wrapping his own arms around the fallen angel's shoulder's, hugging tighter.
Castiel broke the contact after a long while. He flashed Dean one of his killer grins and said "Thank you, Dean." Whether it had been for the hug or for the art supplies, Dean didn't know. He accepted the gratitude and quickly exited the isle, Castiel following close behind him to the register to pay for the items they had picked out.
At this point, Dean determined to teach Cas the ropes of being human.
AN: Well damn. This was supposed to be a short, one-time thing but I guess it all came out into this. Who knows what's going on in my funny ol' noodle? Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this first chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.